Is your item similar to a Clarice Cliff design? You can increase interest by wording your auction carefully. But take care! This guide will help you list within eBay rules.

Can I call any piece of pottery Clarice Cliff?

Definitely not! Use of the trademark on a non associated item is prohibited on eBay unless it is an official reproduction or original Clarice Cliff.

See below for information on "How eBay protects the use of trademarked names" and read it carefully. Don't fall foul of the rules or eBay may end your auction early and give you a black mark against your name. 

What is the best way to describe my item in the style of Clarice Cliff?

Try to establish if it really is in the style of Clarice Cliff. The following are NOT in the style of Clarice Cliff and shouldn't have the trademarked name anywhere in the auction description.

• If it was designed before Clarice Cliff then it's definitely not in her style.

• If it doesn't look anything like Clarice Cliff then it's not in her style.

• If it has a Shorter backstamp then it's not in the style of Clarice Cliff.

Clarice Cliff was not welcome at the Shorter factory probably because she was a working class girl who had an affair with her boss, Colley Shorter while his wife was still alive. Read the latest biography Clarice Cliff by Lynn Knight if you want to find out more.

Guy Shorter, Colley's brother and manager of Shorters, along with other prominent employees, would have nothing to do with Clarice Cliff. Until proper evidence is unearthed to show that Clarice Cliff designed for Shorters, a Shorter item is not a Clarice Cliff design. 

• Check the date of your Wilkinson item as before Clarice Cliff is definitely not in her style. Wilkinson transfers are generally not in her style.

• Other art deco ceramics might also be 'in the style of Clarice Cliff'. Whether this is correct artistically and historically is debateable.

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TAKE CARE!!!

If you use the term 'in the style of Clarice Cliff' or similar,

you will still be using the trademarked name with a non-associated item.

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These may well be 'in the style of Clarice Cliff'.

• Hand painted Wilkinson patterns are more likely to be in the style of Clarice Cliff.

• Did you know that Clarice's sister Dolly designed for Wilkinson?

Who influenced who is an interesting topic! Clarice Cliff had her workshop at the Newport factory which belonged to Wilkinson's. It is possible to assume that her influence may have spread over to Wilkinson ware and the other way around. There were other designers at both factories too. But it's not possible to say that Clarice Cliff might have designed a Wilkinson pattern.

For the interest of the Clarice enthusiast, the pattern books for Wilkinson and Clarice Cliff clearly state the patterns that Clarice Cliff designed. If there is no archive documentation to show it was designed by Clarice Cliff, it can't be 'possibly', 'probably' or 'some people think it may be' designed by Clarice Cliff. Without the archive evidence, opinions are merely individual opinions and should not form part of the sale of your item.

Actual attribution to Clarice Cliff can only be made if the research supports it. Much of the information from the archives has been published. Plenty of information is FREELY available on the internet and local libraries and there is probably more to come.

So can't I list in the style of Clarice Cliff at all?

Over time, eBay have not been particularly rigorous in enforcing the rule even though use of a non-associated trademark is called KEYWORD SPAMMING.

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TAKE CARE!!!

Where vendors have used the term 'in the style of' or similar

few people seem to make complaints.

But it still happens from time to time.

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I would say use the term 'in the style of' or similar with care and be aware that once reported, eBay may well end the auction and ask you not to do this in future.

Clarice Cliff patterns were copied extensively in the 1920's and 1930's. Can they be called 'in the style of'?

Quite possibly. Particularly the Japanese items which were almost direct copies of Clarice Cliff patterns and shapes. The same eBay rules about Keyword Spamming apply. So take care!

Clarice Cliff is a trademark

The name of Clarice Cliff is a trademarked name and it's use, like all trademarked names, is regulated by eBay rules and in most countries by law. This means that unless an item is an original Clarice Cliff or an authorised reproduction it should not be called Clarice Cliff in the title or description. Even if it is obviously a modern item and described as such, the use of the name Clarice Cliff is restricted to licensed users of the trademark only.

Who can use the trademarked name?

The two prolific areas of official reproduction ceramics come from Wedgwood and the Bradford Exchange. There are a number of different issues produced and more details are given below.

Certain manufacturers also have a license to use the name on items beyond just the area of ceramics. If your item has the name of Clarice Cliff printed on it then it is likely it is authorised. Should you be unfortunate enough to come across an unauthorised use of the name then you will probably find out about it through the registered Clarice Cliff Collectors Club.

It's just some petty trademark complaint, isn't it?

No, not really. Of course the trademark holders need to uphold and protect their trademark. But it's important for buyers to know what they are buying. The law demands that an item is described correctly. So does eBay. But the most important point I wish to make is this

BUYERS NEED TO HAVE CONFIDENCE

IN WHAT THEY BUY

If your plate is described as possibly Clarice Cliff, they may think to take a chance and buy it on that assumption. When they find it is nothing to do with Clarice Cliff, they will not be happy. Honest vendors do not want an unhappy customer. Nor do they want to be known as someone who deliberately misleads their customers.

You still need to make money. We WANT you to make money so you carry on finding things we can collect. So PLEASE list accurately so that the less experienced bidders will not be mislead into buying something that is not as described.

If you want to include the name of Clarice Cliff in your listing and it is not a Clarice Cliff please make it clear it is not actually a Clarice Cliff.

Over-used and inaccurate phrases

The following phrases are produced by some dishonest vendors, but more often than not, honest vendors do not realise these phrases are misleading to less experienced buyers.

• Possibly a Clarice Cliff
• Clarice Cliff may have worked at this factory
• Clarice Cliff married Guy Shorter
• It's in the book 'The Shorter Connection'. It may be in the book, but the book does not set out to provide proof, it just creates some interesting possibilities.
• It is well known that Clarice Cliff influenced the design of this shape or pattern.
• Clarice Cliff may have had a hand in decorating this item.
• Clarice Cliff may have designed this when she was working for xxx factory or before she came to work at Wilkinson's.

Reproductions -
Authorised and Not Authorised

The original reproductions were issued by Midwinter, the company that bought Clarice Cliff. Now there are two companies that issue reproductions - Wedgwood themselves and Bradford Exchange or Bradex who use the Clarice Cliff name under license from Wedgwood. Here is a guide to the Clarice Cliff reproductions available, note this is not an exhaustive list.

Midwinter

Midwinter took over the company Clarice Cliff in 1964 and produced a series of reproductions of some of her patterns. They were hand painted and of very good quality. The backstamps used were Royal Staffordshire backstamps, illustrated below with examples of reproduction sifters in the designs House and Bridge and Melons.

It is easy to distinguish between an original Clarice Cliff Bizarre pattern and a Midwinter reproduction:

• The post 1952 backstamp used by Clarice Cliff was similar but instead of the reproduction wording "Royal Staffordshire Pottery by Clarice Cliff" the original reads "Royal Staffordshire Ceramics by Clarice Cliff" or "Royal Staffordshire Dinnerware by Clarice Cliff".
• It is unlikely you will see an original Clarice Cliff Bizarre design with a post 1952 backstamp.

Wedgwood - hand painted and limited edition

Wedgwood began to issue official reproductions in 1994.

• They were of high quality and hand painted.
• Sold as limited editions in a jazzy box with a certificate of authentication.
• The backstamp will say they are hand painted.
• Commissioned reproductions were also issued as limited editions. They were also sold with the jazzy box and a certificate of authenticity.
• Without a certificate of authenticity or an original box, the item may well be a seconds.

Wedgwood - transfer pattern and limited edition

• The transfer pattern reproductions were sold in a plain orange box with certificate of authenticity.
• Many seconds are on the market, usually with a mark on the backstamp and sold without certificate or box.

Bradford Exchange or Bradex or BE

• Issued reproductions of Clarice Cliff under license from Wedgwood. Produced by another pottery altogether. Certificate of authenticity and box will ensure first quality.
• Issued reproductions of Clarice Cliff  for Wedgwood on Wedgwood china. Certificate of authenticity and box will ensure first quality.

Modern look-alikes

The largest modern manufacturer of items that bear a vague resemblance to Clarice Cliff is Moorland. These are not licensed reproductions and should not be described as Clarice Cliff.  Other non-licensed manufacturers include Sadler and Wren. Some would say they are not even 'in the style of' Clarice Cliff.

Japanese copies

The original reproductions actually came from Japan in direct competition with the British ceramics industry. They copied the designs and produced the items far more cheaply than the traditional potteries could manage. This posed a significant threat to the local industry and was one of the reasons the use of the "Made in England" mark was encouraged. They don't use the Clarice Cliff backstamp but the patterns and the shapes can be confused with the genuine patterns and should not be mistaken for unmarked Clarice Cliff. The quality of the pottery itself is inferior.

Some examples of Japanese copies are illustrated in the book Comprehensively Clarice Cliff by Greg Slater and Jonathan Brough, Thames & Hudson, 2005.

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How eBay protects the use of trademarked names

Auctions that are not original Clarice Cliff or authorised reproductions but are described as Clarice Cliff are usually removed by eBay. Even using the name in the title but describing the item correctly in the main body of the auction still constitutes an eBay offence. These are the relevant sections on eBay that explain the process.

Keyword spamming

Keyword Spamming

"Keyword spamming occurs when members place brand names or other inappropriate keywords in a title or description to gain attention or divert members to a listing."

What is VeRO and why was my listing removed because of it?

The role of the VeRO

"The Verified Rights Owner (VeRO) Programme lets intellectual property rights owners request the removal of listings on eBay that offer items or contain materials that infringe their intellectual property rights. This helps protect members of the eBay community from purchasing items that may be counterfeit or otherwise unauthorised."

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I hope this guide has been useful to you. It is designed to give vendors the tools to list safely and accurately and bidders the ability to buy confidently. A safer environment means more confidence in the market, more sales, more collectors and healthy prices.

Good luck and happy eBaying!

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Clarice Cliff - Genuine or Counterfeit

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Clarice Cliff - Wedgwood Reproductions for sale